James A. "Smitty" Smith

James A. "Smitty" Smith, 95, of Lafayette, IN, joined his wife, Margaret, on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at IU Health Arnett.
He was born October 8, 1929, to the late Albert and Beulah (Pierce) Smith in Montmorenci, IN. Smitty graduated from Montmorenci High School in 1947. Following graduation, he attended Brayton Flying Services. Always looking to the sky, he joined the U.S. Air Force.
After his discharge, he married Margaret Roberts, of Perry, IA, on November 15, 1953 at Liberty Church in Lafayette, IN. They were married just short of 70 years before her death in 2023.
Jim retired from General Telephone and was a lifetime member of the Communications Workers of America. He began his career digging post holes (manually), trimming trees, installing phone lines in homes, and finally retired from the SATT room soon after they started using fiber optics and electronic switching.
Smitty enjoyed the simple life of "watching the world go by," crossword puzzles, reading, his grandchildren, vegetable garden, and he never stopped looking at the airplanes. For a few years, he helped his son, Jimmy, as his hot-air balloon crew chief. His calm, patient demeanor always attracted the attention of animals and children alike. A testament of his patience was his ability to untangle a slinky and huge knots.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Margaret, brother, Roy Smith, sister, Beulah Jean Brant, and daughter, Carol (Ricardo) Vasquez.
He is survived by his sisters, Ruth Pipher of Indianapolis and Nancy (Paul) Ramsey of Athens, AL. He is also survived by his daughters, Teresa (Charles E. II) Hunter, and Tracy (Thomas A. Jr.) Funkhouser both of Lafayette; son, James M. recently from Albuquerque now of Lafayette; grandchildren, William "Billy" Brand II, Charles "Tre" Hunter III, Terra Funkhouser, Jacob Vasquez, Ricardo Vasquez Jr., all of Lafayette, Chantal Hunter of Shively, Ky., and Josue Vasquez of Chicago; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday, May 16, at 1:00pm in the Tippecanoe Memory Gardens Chapel followed by services at 2:00 pm. You may leave memories and condolences at www.soller-baker.com